. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1963 
23 October 2009  
 (09-5257) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US 
Department of Agriculture 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Sweet cherry and citrus fruit 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners 
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Australia  
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Rule:  Amendments to Treatments for Sweet 
Cherry and Citrus Fruit from Australia a nd Irradiation Dose for Mediterranean Fruit Fly 
(Docket No. APHIS-2008-0140)  Language:  English  Number of pages:  7 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the regulations pertaining to approve d phytosanitary treatments of fruits and 
vegetables by adding new treatment schedules for sweet cherries and for certain species of citrus fruit imported from Australia into the United States.  Based on our treatment evaluation, we have determined that the pr oposed treatments would be effective against 
Mediterranean fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly,  pests associated with sweet cherries and 
citrus fruit from Australia.  We also propo se to establish an approved irradiation dose for 
Mediterranean fruit fly of 100 gray, which is lowe r than the generic dose of 150 gray that is 
approved for all fruit flies. New peer-reviewed data indicate that the 100 gray irradiation 
dose will neutralize Mediterranean fruit fly.  These changes would offer more flexibility in 
treatments while continuing to prevent the introduction or interstate movement of 
quarantine pests. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, [ 
] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    G/SPS/N/USA/1963 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal 
Register:  19 October 2009 (Volume 74,  Number 200), Notices Pages 53424-53430. 
Available online in English at:  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25120.htm    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure 
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
18 December 2009. 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
You may submit comments by either of the following methods: 
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  Go to http://www.regulations.gov/
 and search on the 
docket number (APHIS–2008-0140) to subm it or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please send two copies of your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS–2008–0140, Regulatory  Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.  Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–2008–0140. 
For further information contact:  Dr. Inder P. S. Gadh, Senior Risk Manager -Treatments, 
Regulations, Permits, and Manua ls, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1231; +1 (301) 734-8578. 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   United States 
SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Fore ign Agricultural Service, International 
Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 
202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.s psenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov